Top 10 for Pampling at Farmers Insurance Open

Rod Pampling has closed out his week at Torrey Pines with a 1-under par 71 to finish in a tie for 8th place at the PGA Tour's Farmers Insurance Open. Pampling's 10-under par total was 6 shots back of eventual winner Brandt Snedeker. This is a great start to the season for Rod as he collected a cheque for US$162,000.

Pampling 9-under at Torrey Pines

Gary Edwin Tour Player Rod Pampling is 9-under through 3 rounds of the PGA Tour's Farmers Insurance Open. After a brilliant bogey-free opening round of 8-under par 64 on the North Course, Pampling posted a disappointing 2nd round 75 on the South Course before bouncing back with a solid 3rd round of 68. Rod is currently in a tie for 11th place and in great shape to record a top 10 finish with one round to play.

Marc Cruises to Victory in China

After finishing runner-up last year, 16yr old Singaporean Marc Ong has gone one better, claiming a wire-to-wire victory at the 2012 HSBC China Junior Open.

Marc closed out the week with a round of 71, for an impressive 3-day total of 10-under par and a massive 9-stroke margin of victory. After final round birdies on both the 3rd and 9th holes, Marc all but secured the victory with a brilliant eagle on the par 5 10th hole to reach 13-under par for the championship....opening up a commanding lead. Marc momentarily stumbled with a triple-bogey on the par 4 12th hole but bounced back in style making a birdie 2 at the short 13th hole before cruising through the final 5 holes in even par to take the title.

Marc had a total of 19 birdies and 1 eagle for the tournament....an amazing effort for a junior golfer! Congrats on a great start to the year!!

Marc Leads HSBC China Junior Open

Academy junior Marc Ong has opened up a commanding 7-stroke lead at the 2012 HSBC China Junior Golf Open in Guangzhou. Marc blitzed his way around the Guangzhou Nansha Golf Club, recording an incredible 15 birdies through the first 36 holes of the tournament. After brilliant rounds of 68 and 67, the 16yr old is on a total of 9-under par and in a commanding position to claim victory with just one round left to be played. Marc's nearest rival is Japanese golfer Shion Okawa who is 2-under par for the tournament, with Mexico's Alfredo Ruiz a further stroke back on 1-under.

It has been a great week so far for Marc who earlier recorded his first ever hole-in-one during the tournament practice round! The Academy wishes to congratulate Marc on this achievement and wishes him all the very best in todays final round.

Ramsay McMaster will be Sadly Missed

Our Golf Academy has been saddened by the tragic news that world-renowned golf fitness trainer and friend Ramsay McMaster passed away on the evening of 29 December 2011.

This sudden and most unexpected news is a huge loss to the golf industry. Ramsay was a true pioneer of golf-specific physiotherapy. His knowledge and expertise in the area of golf fitness, injury prevention and rehabilitation changed the lives of thousands of golfers across the globe. His energy and passion was a huge inspiration to all those golfers fortunate to have trained under him or professionals who worked alongside him.

We were most privileged to have Ramsay conduct several golf fitness workshops at our Singapore Academy over the years, leaving a lasting impression and influence on all students and staff who had the pleasure of meeting him.

I am truly grateful to have known Ramsay both as a professional golf service provider and a friend. His incredible energy, personality and passion for life will be missed but not forgotten. My spikey-ball will continue to have a place in my suitcase throughout all of my travels!

The Academy's thoughts and prayers are with Ramsay's wife, children and family at this difficult time.

Marc Ong 3rd at SICC Junior Invitational

Three Academy juniors have finished inside the top 10 in the Boys 'A' division at the 20th SICC-DBS Junior Invitational Golf Championship. Marc Ong recorded the best performance of our juniors after three steady rounds of 72,72,73 at Singapore Island Country Club's Old Course. His 1-over par total put him in 3rd place. Edgar Oh closed out his tournament with a very good final round of 2-under par 70 for 7th place, while Abdul Hadi's final round 75 gave him 10th place.

Former Academy student and Singaporean Gregory Foo ran away the Boys 'A' division title after an incredibly impressive week of play on his home course. Gregory fired a 3-round total of 12-under par, streeting the field and claiming a massive 10 shots margin of victory. This included a brilliant 2nd round score of 7-under par 65! Gregory has had a terrific junior record of achievement. During his many years training under our Academy he claimed such titles as the Asia-Pacific Junior Championship as well as a 3rd placing at the prestigous Callaway Junior World Championships.

This years event was represented by junior golfers from countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Korea, Japan, India, UK, Australia and the Unites States.

Solid Finish for Barr in Thailand

Scott Barr closed out his 2011 season on the Asian Tour by finishing in 18th place behind world no.2 Lee Westwood in the Thailand Golf Championship. Barr ended the week around the difficult Amata Spring Country Club on a total of 2-under par, collecting 17 birdies along the way.

Even after Barr's good performance in Thailand, he was unable to climb any higher on the Asia Tour Order Of Merit, finishing the year in 26th position and comfortably earning his full playing rights for 2012.

It was also a very good week for former Academy student Lam Zhi Qun (below) who made the cut on his professional debut. The young Singaporean was playing on a sponsors invitation and didn't disappoint, finishing in a commendable 27th place on 1-over par for the tournament. Lam groomed his skills for several years as a junior golfer under our Academy's training program with the Singapore Sports School, collecting many junior and amateur championship titles. Lam will head to the Asian Tour Qualifying School in January in a bid to earn his tour card for the 2012 season. We wish Lam all the very best for his professional career.